International Racing: Sha Tin Turf – Sunday 24 May 2020

The final Group 1 event of the season is the headliner on the card on Sunday 24th May, when we return to Sha Tin for an 11-race programme. 

The Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (Group 1) is the race in question, a 2400m test of stamina, and the QE II Cup winning EXULTANT looks the likely victor. He is always a prominent performer at this level and over this trip and on form, he looks unstoppable at level weights. The Sha Tin Vase is the supporting feature, a Group 3 event over 1200m that sees the return of HOT KING PRAWN, who will be looking to make amends for a disappointing 4th last time. See more about their chances here.

Other International Racing: 

Port Augusta 
Kalgoorlie 
Neil Morrice 
Anthony Delpech 

Best Bet: EXULTANT (Race 8)
Value Bet: CRUISING (Race 5)

Race 1 – 06:30 – 1200m – Griffins
A field of Griffins faces the starter in the first race, and it looks a wide-open affair. SMILING FACE is tipped to lead them home, based purely on the 7-pound advantageous weight turnaround that he enjoys with the likes of LIKE THAT and SUNNY STAR. The top selection finished runner up to both of those contenders in his two starts so far and with Moreira retaining the ride for his third attempt, he should be able to land top honours this time. SUNNY STAR returns for his second start after that impressive win on debut and he should be prominent once again. LIKE THAT is tipped for third and the 2-year old son of Akeed Mofeed will have plenty of scope to improve on that good recent win, when beating the top selection. Despite the unfavourable weight conditions, he will be improving with every run and must go in.

Selections: 6 – 1 – 7 – 5 – 2 

Race 2 – 07:00 – 1400m – Class 4 Handicap
LEAP OF FAITH lines up for his fifth career start here and he should enjoy dropping back to the 1400m, where he featured prominently in his first two starts. He has followed up those two runs with two good efforts over the mile, but he seems a little more effective over this sharper trip. Moreira regains the ride and from another plum draw, he should have enough progression in the tank to win this time. ARMOR STAR gave an encouraging account of himself on debut, when running on late from well off the speed. That was in a 1200m and the extra furlong here is bound to suit the son of Dalghar. He finds a wide barrier this time, but Zac Purton does duty and he should be able to guide the 4-year old into a safe early position. With the expected improvement, he must have a good shout. SO WE JOY and LUCKY PUZZLE look to be the best of the rest and must considered for wider perms.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 6 – 1 – 13 


Race 3 – 07:30 – 1600m – Class 4 Handicap
MONSTER KAKA has been in good consistent form and it was no surprise to see him go right into contention last time out, when dropping into this class for the first time. He finished right behind ENJOY LIFE on that occasion but enjoys a 12-pound turn around at the weights with the latter now and despite the wide draw, he has the credentials to land his first Hong Kong victory here. The latter has clearly enjoyed the switch back that this course and the removal of blinkers in his last two starts. From a plum draw, Moreira takes the mount and the pair should be right there once again. CITY LEGEND and MISSION SMART both find very useful draws and on recent form must be strongly considered.

Selections: 2 – 10 – 13 – 11 – 8 

Race 4 – 08:00 – 1200m – The Sha Tin Vase Trophy (Group 3)
HOT KING PRAWN had every chance of winning last time out, when going down by a length and a half to Mr Stunning. He was strongly tipped to win that race and deserves another chance here, with Joao Moreira adding the confidence by retaining the ride. THANKS FOREVER finished just under a length in front of the top selection last time and he lines up 6-pounds better off at the weights with the former here. That was a solid effort by the consistent son of Duporth and with Zac Purton up this time, he will be looking to continue that solid record over this course and distance and go right into contention again. WISHFUL THINKER stems from the same form line in that latest effort at Group 1 level, when finishing right behind the top two here. Antoine Hamelin retains the ride and he must be included.

Selections: 1 – 2 – 3 – 7 – 6  


Race 5 – 08:30 -1200m – Class 3 Handicap
CRUISING goes to post with a very handy galloping weight on his back, with the 10-pound claiming Chau in the irons. This is on the back of two good performances since dropping back into this class. His latest run was a first up attempt, after an 8-month absence. He has won second up before and will strip a lot fitter now. On his record over this trip and if allowed to go handy, he could be very tough to collar in the closing stages and should be a value bet worth following. GOOD LUCK FRIEND is an obvious inclusion on the back of three good performances to date, with his latest coming from a tough barrier draw. He now takes on the rise in class and lands a plum draw to mount his challenge from. With plenty of scope for improvement, he should be a major contender. BIZ POWER showed good improvement last time, when reverting to the Turf. He appears to have slipped to a competitive rating now and with Purton up he must be included.


Selections: 1 – 10 – 6 – 4 – 8 


Race 6 – 09:00 – 1200m – Class 4 Handicap
SKY DARCI was an impressive winner last time out, following a solid debut when finishing second. That was when stepping up to the 1400m from a wide barrier, at the end of last year. The son of Darci Brahma returns for his first outing this year and from a plum draw, he looks progressive enough to win first up. KINDA COOL gave a good sight on debut, when going down by half a length in second. He did well to overcome barrier 10 to find a prominent early position on that occasion, but from an even wider draw here he risks a wide transit. The son of Per Incanto will have plenty of scope for improvement and with Purton sticking with him, he must be a big runner. FLYING SPIRIT was outpaced throughout in that debut run over the 1000m and he wasn’t disgraced by finishing just over 4,5-lengths behind the winner. With the 10-pound claimer up this time, he should enjoy the extra and must be included with “dark horse” credentials.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 5 – 8 – 10 


Race 7 – 09:35 – 1200m – Class 4 Handicap
XPONENTIAL lines up for his sixth career outing here, his fourth over this course and distance and having shown further progression in his latest effort he looks well placed here. The 10-pound claiming Chau takes the mount this time and with the weight allowance off his back he should be a very tough horse to pass. YEE CHEONG PEGASUS has been in very consistent form in his last five starts and he returns to the Sha Tin circuit after two solid efforts over the 1200m trip at the valley course. From a plum draw, Antoine Hamelin takes the mount and he will be one of the leading contenders once again. FAST PACE rallied well to finish fourth on debut, when overcoming a tough draw over this course and distance. Zac Purton takes the mount for his second attempt and from pole position this time, one gets the feeling that he will almost certainly be in the frame.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 7 – 10 – 3 

Race 8 – 10:05 – 2400m – The Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (Group 1)
It’s the last Group 1 of the season and the outcome appears to be one of the bigger certainties on the feature race calendar. EXULTANT steps up to the 2400m after that impressive win in the QE II Cup last time out, when doing things the hard way from a handy position. That run, despite being a 2000m contest, showcased his staying prowess and having won three out of five attempts at this trip he should win this as he likes. The stable companion, FURORE, was game in defeat last time, when going down by under a length behind the top selection. He steps up to this trip for the first time and the extra ground may be just what he is looking for. He should be a worthy second pick here. The strong front runner, TIME WARP, is tipped to fill third. He will be looking to set the fractions out in front and the son of Archipenko will have no issues seeing out the 2400m.

Selections: 1 – 2 – 3 – 6 – 5 

Race 9 – 10:40 – 1800m – Class 3 Handicap
CHARITY GO gets the nod for first in this Class 3 test over the 1800m. He has been knocking on the door in his last two starts, having dropped to a mark of 74. Given a 3-point penalty for that latest performance, he still lines up 3-pounds better off with the victor and despite the tricky draw he has the credentials to win this. ENZEMBLE beat the top selection in his penultimate start and he followed that up with a good performance when finishing right behind the former in his latest effort. The son of Zoffany has finished first and second in his two attempts over this trip and despite the wide draw, he gets the services of the 10-pound claiming Chau which should bring him right into the equation. TANGMERE and DEFINING MOMENT arrive with solid form and have both recently risen into this class. With the top two jockeys in Purton and Moreira riding, they must be considered.

Selections: 4 – 8 – 10 – 9 – 2 

Race 10 – 11:15 – 1400m – Class 3 Handicap
BEAUTY SMILE has featured prominently in both starts so far, following up a good second on debut with an eye-catching effort last time out when overcoming a wide draw. The Irish bred son of Free Eagle lands a much-improved draw this time and with Moreira in the irons he looks set to land his first Hong Kong win here. HAPPY ALLUMNI has featured prominently since rising into this class four starts back. He appears to be competing off a competitive rating in this class and looks due a win at this level, in his next few starts. Hamelin takes the ride from a plum draw and the pair should go right into contention here. REGENCY BOBO lands an improved draw to follow up on that solid return to the Turf last time. Purton regained the mount on that occasion and the pair made late headway over the final furlong, to finish just 1-length back. If building on that run, he is not without a chance here.

Selections: 3 – 10 – 2 – 7 – 6 

Race 11 – 11:50 – 1400m – Class 2 Handicap
GLORIOUS SPECTRUM is one of the better bets on the card and he will be looking to end off the meeting on a positive note for his followers. He returned to form last time out under Hamelin when finishing 2nd over 1200m in this class, after a forgettable performance in his penultimate start where he had excuses. The extra furlong here will suite and he confirmed that three runs back, when going down a short head over this track and trip. He lands a much-improved draw this time around and a winning outcome looks likely. WATER DIVINER has been dropping in the ratings for some time now and he finished right behind the top selection last time out. From an improved draw, he’ll enjoy an easier trip and looks set for a big performance. WILL POWER steps on to the Turf for the first time, bringing with him some useful All-Weather form. From pole position, his regular rider retains the mount and he should be involved in the finish.

Selections: 2 – 7 – 14 – 5 – 3